First part of new Scheldt tunnel from Zeebrugge to Antwerp sailed (Antwerp)
© Belga
The first tunnel element for the new Scheldt tunnel, which departed from Zeebrugge on Friday, arrived in the port of Antwerp. The 160 meter long and 60,000 tons of heavy colossus has traveled a journey of more than 100 kilometers over the North Sea and the Scheldt, floating with tugs. It is ‘parked’ in the goal dock during the night.
Source: Belga
Today at 10:10 PM
A total of eight tunnel elements this year must be transported from their construction dock in Zeebrugge to Antwerp. That happens about water, and that is by no means an obvious operation, especially on a whimsical tidal river like the Scheldt. There are ballast tanks with water in the tunnel elements to increase them and fall on departure and arrival.
The entire operation for the first tunnel part lasted more than 24 hours, also because a few times were stopped, for example in Terneuzen to wait for floods and to be able to sail more efficiently. The tunnel element has been brought to the port area of Antwerp, where it will wait in the goal dock until it can be sunk in the Scheldt in its final place. That is again a millimeter work, and is only possible at two times a month, at death tide.
The transport attracted a lot of spectators on Saturday, including in the infamous bend of Bath on the Scheldt and in Doel. It was mainly the operation as a whole that was impressive, because there was not much to see from the tunnel element itself: 9.5 of the 10 meters (in height) was always under water.
The Scheldtunnel must become one of the showpieces of the Oosterweel connection, the enormous project that the Antwerp mobility node must help unravel and at the same time have to improve the quality of life for local residents. In 2028, cyclists could already go through their tunnel poker, in 2030 road traffic. The entire Oosterweel connection would be ready in 2033.
